HR 5739119th CongressIn Committee

Italian Heroes and Heritage Act

Introduced: Oct 10, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6] (R-Ohio)

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, titled the Italian Heroes and Heritage Act, would bar federal funds from being obligated, expended, or disbursed to any state or local government that observes Indigenous Peoples Day in place of Columbus Day. The prohibition would apply during the 1-year period beginning after October 13, 2025, and then on each Columbus Day thereafter. The bill also establishes findings and a sense of Congress that Columbus Day should continue to be celebrated nationwide, including language highlighting Italian-American heritage and naming specific Italian-American individuals who were killed in a lynching incident in New Orleans. The prohibition is stated to operate “notwithstanding any other provision of law,” meaning it would supersede other funding rules when triggered. In short, the bill would withhold federal funding from jurisdictions that replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day on Columbus Day each year, starting with the Columbus Day following October 13, 2025, and continuing annually.

Key Points

1Short title: The act may be cited as the “Italian Heroes and Heritage Act.”
2Findings and Sense of Congress: The bill includes findings praising Christopher Columbus and Italian-American heritage, and expresses a congressional sense that Columbus Day should continue to be celebrated nationwide.
3Prohibition on federal funds: For the 1-year period beginning after October 13, 2025, and on each Columbus Day thereafter, no federal funds may be obligated, expended, or disbursed to any state or unit of local government that celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day in lieu of Columbus Day.
4Scope of restriction: The restriction applies to a broad range of federal funding to state and local governments that observe Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day.
5Reference to Columbus Day definition: The prohibition ties to Columbus Day as defined in 5 U.S.C. 6103(a), i.e., the federal recognition of Columbus Day as a holiday, linking the funding rule to the official federal holiday.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- State and local governments that celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day in lieu of Columbus Day. They would be at risk of losing federal funding on Columbus Day under the bill’s provision.Secondary group/area affected- Federal agencies and programs responsible for distributing funds to state and local governments, since they would need to apply the withholding in the specified period.Additional impacts- Italian-American communities: The bill targets funding decisions in a way that aligns with the sponsor’s historical narrative stressing Italian-American heritage related to Columbus.- Indigenous communities and supporters of Indigenous Peoples Day: Could be negatively affected by a policy linked to withholding funds from jurisdictions that observe Indigenous Peoples Day.- Fiscal and legal considerations: The “notwithstanding any other provision of law” clause creates a potential for disputes with existing funding statutes and could raise constitutional questions if challenged; the one-year timing around Columbus Day creates a recurring annual impact for eligible jurisdictions.

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